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Having the right credit card in your wallet can make all the difference. Capital One Venture X only recently came out but is already a top competitor compared to seasoned travel rewards credit cards, especially for the low annual fee.
Annual fee credit cards freaked me out before I completely understood their benefits. I kept thinking, why would anyone PAY to use a credit card?! But I’ve been able to net thousands of dollars by taking advantage of these travel credit cards. Here I’ve delved into the benefits of the Venture X card and how you can easily net hundreds of dollars by signing up.
The annual fee for the Venture X is $395. As I said, this may sound insane for someone new to what I call the points game but the value is almost instantly seen:
Sign-Up Bonus
The Capital One Venture X card welcomes new cardholders with an enticing sign-up bonus, offering new cardholders a fantastic sign-up bonus of 75,000 points after $4,000 of spend in the first 3 months. This bonus can be a game-changer, allowing you to kickstart your travels with a significant number of miles in your account, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more. 75,000 points are worth a minimum of $750 when redeemed for travel through the portal, reimbursem*nts for travel-related expenses on the card, or transferring points to 1 of 18 partners such as Air Canada or Wyndham.
Annual Travel Credit
Every year, cardholders receive a $300 credit for travel purchases made through the Capital One portal. This credit applies to flights, hotels, and car rentals and does not have to be used all on one purchase. After purchasing travel through the portal using the Venture X card (not points), you will receive a statement credit matching the amount, up to $300 every year!
Anniversary Miles
Along with the $300 travel credit, cardholders will also receive 10,000 points on their anniversary every year. 10,000 points have a minimum value of $100. Just looking at the annual travel credit and anniversary miles, you’ve already netted $5 from having the card, making the $395 annual fee worth it.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
The Venture X credit card will credit your account $100 for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every 4 years. Global Entry costs $100 whereas PreCheck is $78. I will always recommend applying for Global Entry because this includes TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck speeds up security screenings for all flights departing from US airports. Once accepted, the membership lasts 5 years.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck but also includes US Customs screening for international flights arriving at US airports. Once accepted, the membership lasts 5 years.
Both programs require an interview to be completed.
Airport Lounge Access
The Venture X provides cardholders and 2 guests unlimited access to Capital One Airport Lounges as well as Priority Pass Select and Plaza Premium Group lounges. This gives you and 2 guests unlimited access to over 1,300 worldwide airport lounges. This is worth over $450/year alone.
Free Additional Cardholders
One of the most amazing things about the Venture X, which stands out from every other travel credit card, is you can add up to 4 additional cardholders for free who will also gain access to Capital One Airport Lounges and Priority Pass for themselves plus 2 guests. Additional cardholders must activate their Priority Pass membership to have their own access.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
You will never be charged a transaction fee when making purchases outside the US.
Best Price Guarantee
Capital One offers a free price drop protection program for flights where they will provide the difference, up to a $50 travel credit if the price of a flight drops within 10 days of booking. Even better, if you find a better price within 24 hours of a booking, Capital One will give you a travel credit for the difference.
Travel Insurance and Car Rental Insurance
The Venture Xoffers travel insurance including trip delays and lost luggage along with primary rental car collision coverage.
For the travel insurance, as long as the airfare was purchased even partially with the Venture Xyou are eligible for up to $500 per person if your travel is delayed by 6 or more hours, or if you are forced to have an overnight stay. This can cover the expenses for lodging, food, and toiletries. For trip cancellations or interruptions, if an accident, illness, or death forces you to cut your trip short, you are covered for up $2,000 per person in expenses. You, your spouse, and dependent children under 22 years old are automatically covered if they are traveling with you.
For lost luggage reimbursem*nt, as long as you paid for your airfare with the Venture X, you can get up to $3,000 to replace or repair the bag and its contents. The cardholder and immediate family members are covered.
The Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver reimburses you for damages caused by theft or collision, up to the cash value of the rental vehicle, with a limit of $75,000. This includes towing to the nearest repair shop if needed.
Cell Phone Insurance
If you pay your cell phone bill with your Venture Xcard, you will be reimbursed up to $800 if it is stolen or damaged for a $50 deductible. This can be used twice in a 12-month period.
Miles Earnings
Venture Xoffers 10 times the miles of hotels and rental cars and 5 times the miles of flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal. Every non-portal purchase earns 2 times the miles. Your miles never expire and there are no blackout dates.
Free Memberships
Venture Xoffers the following memberships for free:
PRIOR travel magazine subscription, a $149 value.
The Cultivist 6-month Enthusiast membership to over 100 of the world’s top museums, a $240 value.
The Venture X is hands down the best travel credit card on the market right now with the next best next cards being the Chase Sapphire Reserve at a $550 annual fee and the Platinum Card from American Express at an astounding $695 a year. With the $300 annual travel credit and the $100 worth of points every year, the Venture X is guaranteed to be worthwhile. Add the 75,000 intro offer points, points earned from everyday purchases, and perks such as lounge access across the world, the Venture X needs to be added to your wallet!
If you have a passion for exploring the world and desire a credit card that complements your travel lifestyle, the Capital One Venture X card could be your ticket to unforgettable adventures. Where will you travel to with your points?
Ready to explore? Sign up for the Capital One Venture X here.
